Place indicator



Dec. 28, 1937. R. M. EICHELSDOERFER 2,103,250

' PLACE INDICATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1955 w GEM/0E.

III

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PLACE INDICATOR Robert M. Eichelsdoerfer, Governors Island, N. Y-. I

Application January 29, 1935, Serial No. 3,911

1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of. March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention generically relates to social service devices, more particularly it is directed to a place indicator through the instrumentality of which those attending social gatherings of an oflicial or military nature may be properly seated in accordance with their rank and/ or social status.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a place indicator of the character designated which will enable the party charged with the seating arrangement of the guests, to determine at a glance the place to which each guest is to be assigned and when necessary to make rapid changes in the entire seating arrangement without annoyance or embarrassment to either host or guests.

Another object of this invention is to furnish a place indicator which is in effect a reproduction in miniature of the table or tables at which the guests are to be seated, the place of each guest being indicated by a marker or tab, removably associated with the miniature and bearing the name of the guest whose place its position indicates.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an inexpensive indicator embodying but few parts and which will securely retain the markers or tabs in their proper positions andto furnish an indicator, the markers of which may be quickly positioned, rearranged and repeatedly used.

With these and other objects in view this invention resides in certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be more particularly pointed out and described in the appended claim.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a place indicator to be used in the seating of guests at a card gathering or the like;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the indicator shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the type of place indicator to be employed in connection with banquets or the like, the markers or. tabs being shown in position, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the indicator shown in Fig. 2.

Heretofore, the preliminary arrangements for a social function, included the preparation of a diagram showing the proposed seating arrangement of the guests with the name of each guest inscribed in the-place'assigned, and any change in this iseating arrangement involved the preparation of a new diagram. Quite frequently one -or more of the guests are unable to accept the invitation extended and when this happens a rearrangement of the entire assembly becomes necessary. 'Last minute changes of this nature sometimes give rise to embarrassing situations for the host and it is therefore the aim and purpose of this invention to prevent these situations by providing an indicator having removable tabs, which may be quickly shifted to meet any new and unexpected seating arrangement and which may be dependently employed to effect seating in accordance with the proper ran and title of each guest. 7

In the present instance three tables A, B, and C are shown, reproducing in miniature the tables at which the guests are to be seated. However, holding sheets (2) indicating the tables may be increased in number as occasion demands by simply reducing their dimensions as will be readily understood without further discussion.

At each edge of the respective holding sheets (2) there is located a marker or tab (4) formed of celluloid or other suitable material. This marker (4) on which is inscribed the name of the player, is adapted to be inserted between the upper surface of the base (I) and theadjacent surface of the holding sheet (2) where it is securely retained against displacement by frictional contact. With this arrangement it will be seen by merely glancing at the miniature reproduction of the tables and the arrangement of the markers the location of each guest may be readily determined.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown a place indicator adapted to be used in seating guests at a banquet or the like. This indicator comprises base (I), a single holding transparent sheet 40 (2) secured in position upon the upper surface of the base by retaining element (3') As this indicator reproduces in miniature a banquet table, the holding sheet (2') has been given the configuration shown in Fig. 3 so that a series 45 of marker tabs (4') may be arranged around its edge to indicate the positions of each guest at the table which it represents.

The markers or tabs (4') as in the case of the indicator shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are inserted 50 between the lower surface of the holding sheet (2') and the upper surface of the supporting base (I) as will be understood without further discussion. When for any reason it becomes necessary to change the seating arrangement, 55

all of the tabs or markers (4) may be withdrawn and rearranged in accordance with the new order desired.

In conclusion, it is apparent this invention provides a simple device by means of which the party responsible for the seating of guests may be furnished with accurate and dependable information relative to the location and identification of each guest and with any other information pertaining to the guest which may be inscribed upon the markers.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

A place indicator of the character described comprising a base, a transparent holding sheet overlying the base and corresponding in miniature to the outline of the top of the table around which the guests are to be assembled, said holding sheet throughout its entire surface area presenting a continuously flat and uninterrupted surface to the underlying surface of the base whereby said holding sheet, throughout its surface area will have frictional contact with said base, fastening means securing said holding sheet to said base, said sheet when secured in position co-acting with the underlying surface of the base to form a single pocket coextensive 5 with the edge of said base, and a series of markers, each marker being adapted to bear the name of a guest, said markers being seated within the pocket and shiftable therein to positions commensurate with the rank and social stand- 1 ing of the guests, the markers being frictionally secured to the adjacent surfaces of the transparent holding sheet and the base with their extremities extending beyond the edge of said sheet whereby said markers may be conveniently 1 grasped for removal and for shifting within the pocket, and the name of the guest on the marker readily discerned through the transparent holding sheet in any position to which said marker may have been shifted.

ROBERT M. EICHELSDOERFER. 

